MBA and heat

[Bob Coxner]

If you follow the MBP forums you'll see endless discussion/complaints about heat with the Sandy Bridge processors. If heat is a problem with the relatively thick case of the MBP, how will the MBA disperse heat efficiently with the same processors in a thinner case?

(I realize that there is a lot of debate over whether the heat issue on the MBP is really a problem or not, but many people think it is)

 

[GGJstudios]

If you follow the MBP forums you'll see endless discussion/complaints about heat with the Sandy Bridge processors. If heat is a problem with the relatively thick case of the MBP, how will the MBA disperse heat efficiently with the same processors in a thinner case?

Heat isn't a problem. The case is irrelevant, as Mac portables don't use the case to cool. The vents located at the rear near the hinge is the primary cooling area. That's where the fan(s) are located.

(I realize that there is a lot of debate over whether the heat issue on the MBP is really a problem or not, but many people think it is)

Just because some think it is, doesn't make it so. There is not an overheating problem with Mac portables. There is only a perceived overheating problem. That's partly due to the fact that the aluminum casing transfers heat better than some other notebook materials, so they may feel hotter to the touch than notebooks made of other materials. It may even become hot enough to be uncomfortable to rest on your lap. This, too, is normal. Because a user is unfamiliar with the heat normally generated by a Mac portable doesn't mean there's a problem with the Mac. Only on rare occasions is there a defect that causes true overheating.

 

[thisday]

That was my concern (i opened a similar thread). Then after careful reading i realized that it was not a sandy bridge problem, but the too much thermal paste in some models. I think the too much, made cencors go crazy and kept more heat in the system than normal. Many sandy bridge pcs in reviews stay cool.

 

[nebulos]

If you follow the MBP forums you'll see endless discussion/complaints about heat with the Sandy Bridge processors. If heat is a problem with the relatively thick case of the MBP, how will the MBA disperse heat efficiently with the same processors in a thinner case?

(I realize that there is a lot of debate over whether the heat issue on the MBP is really a problem or not, but many people think it is)

yes, if you actually read those threads, you will realize a lot of it is garbage, as pointed out above.

and if you actually looked into your question, you would quickly realize that the CPUs that would go into the Air are NOT the same as the ones in the MBPs. saying all Sandy Bridge processors are the same is like saying all Intel processors are the same.

plenty of "Sandy Bridge = heat" threads have already appeared in the MBA forum as well, enough that we shouldn't be addressing this question again.

you seem like you did some homework, which is good, but not quite enough before posting.

... the fact is the TDP of the CPUs in the MBP was increased by 10W, and its still unclear whether this resulted in a heat problem. the CPUs that are likely to go into the Airs are LV and ULV (low voltage and ultra low voltage) models, and the TDPs may in fact drop as compared from last year's model (when accounting for the 320M).

please, no more preemptive, confused heat concerns.